U.S. patent application number 10/654039 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-18 for vehicle body structure employing gussets fastened to cross member portion between damper bases.
This patent application is currently assigned to HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Tamura, Naoyuki.
Application Number | 20040051292 10/654039 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31986876 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040051292 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tamura, Naoyuki |
March 18, 2004 |
Vehicle body structure employing gussets fastened to cross member
portion between damper bases
Abstract
A vehicle body structure for securing sufficient interior space
and for opposing the load for forcing the suspension to fall
sideward by effectively using the existing members of the body
structure, thereby improving the rigidity of the vehicle body. The
structure has damper bases provided at both sides of the vehicle; a
cross member portion between the damper bases; and gussets fastened
to both ends of the cross member portion. Each gusset is attached
at the outside of an interior of the vehicle to an upper wall and a
side wall of each damper base, and typically has an upper wall
combined with a bottom face of the upper wall of the damper base; a
side wall fastened to an outer face of the side wall of the damper
base; and front and rear walls, each being joined to the upper and
side walls of the gusset.
Inventors: |
Tamura, Naoyuki;
(Shioya-gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Assignee: |
HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
1-1, Minamiaoyama 2-chome, Minato-ku
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
31986876 |
Appl. No.: |
10/654039 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/781 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D 25/088
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/781 |
International
Class: |
B62D 021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 18, 2002 |
JP |
2002-271635 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A body structure of a vehicle, comprising: damper bases provided
at both sides of the vehicle; a cross member portion provided
between the damper bases; and gussets fastened to both ends of the
cross member portion, wherein each gusset is provided at the damper
base and is attached at the outside of an interior of the vehicle
to at least an upper wall and a side wall of each damper base.
2. A body structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each gusset has:
an upper wall combined with a bottom face of the upper wall of the
damper base; a side wall fastened to an outer face of the side wall
of the damper base; and a front wall and a rear wall, each being
joined to the upper wall and the side wall of the gusset.
3. A body structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gusset has
an opening surrounded by the upper wall, the side wall, the front
wall, and the rear wall of the gusset, and a damper of a suspension
of the vehicle is disposed in the opening.
4. A body structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the suspension
is a rear suspension.
5. A body structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lower portion
of each gusset is fastened to a member of a framework of the body
of the vehicle, where the member is arranged in a front-rear
direction of the vehicle.
6. A body structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the member of
the framework is a rear frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a body structure of a rear
portion of vehicles, and in particular, a portion to which a rear
suspension is attached.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] According to some known body structures of vehicles, load
input from the rear suspension can be efficiently supported (refer
to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No.
2001-63630, etc.). FIG. 9 shows an example of such conventional
technique. In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates a rear
wheelhouse inner panel, and a mount bracket 2 of the rear
suspension (not shown) is attached to the rear wheelhouse inner
panel 1. The mount bracket 2, the rear wheelhouse inner panel 1,
and the rear pillar 3 joined to the rear wheelhouse inner panel 1
are joined by the vertical ribs 4 and 4 which are arranged in the
interior of the vehicle in the vertical direction. The vertical
ribs 4 and 4 are joined by the horizontal rib 5. Owing to the
vertical ribs 4 and 4 and the horizontal rib 5, the input load from
the suspension can be efficiently supported.
[0005] However, in the above conventional structure, the vertical
ribs 4 and 4 and the horizontal rib 5 protrude from the rear
wheelhouse inner panel 1 toward the inside of the interior of the
vehicle. Therefore, when interior finish work is performed using
interior material or the like, the protruding vertical ribs 4 and 4
and the horizontal rib 5 should be covered with the interior
material, thereby reducing the space of the interior, such as the
space for stowing baggage.
[0006] Additionally, in the above conventional structure, pressure
from below is supported by the vertical ribs 4 and 4 and the
horizontal rib 5 and the corresponding load is shared by the rear
wheelhouse inner panel 1 and the rear pillar 3. However, in order
to oppose the load for forcing the rear suspension to fall
sideward, measures such as increase of the thickness of the
vertical ribs 4 and 4 and the horizontal rib 5 are necessary,
thereby increasing the weight of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of
the present invention is to provide a vehicle body structure for
securing sufficient interior space without sacrificing the space in
the interior and for opposing the load for forcing the suspension
to fall sideward by effectively using the existing members of the
body structure, thereby improving the rigidity of the vehicle
body.
[0008] Therefore, the present invention provides a body structure
of a vehicle, comprising:
[0009] damper bases (e.g., damper bases 13 in an embodiment
explained below) provided at both sides of the vehicle;
[0010] a cross member portion (e.g., a cross member portion 14 in
the embodiment) provided between the damper bases; and
[0011] gussets (e.g., gussets 22 in the embodiment) fastened to
both ends of the cross member portion, wherein each gusset is
provided at the damper base and is attached at the outside of an
interior of the vehicle to at least an upper wall (e.g., an upper
wall 13a in the embodiment) and a side wall (e.g., a side wall 13b
in the embodiment) of each damper base.
[0012] According to the above structure, the gussets do not
protrude toward the inside of the interior of the vehicle, thereby
securing more space in the interior. In addition, force acting from
a suspension in the horizontal direction can be imposed on the
cross member portion via the gusset; thus, it is possible to
prevent the damper base from falling toward the inside of the
interior of the vehicle. Therefore, the rigidity of the vehicle
body in the vicinity of the suspension can be improved without
sacrificing the space in the interior of the vehicle.
[0013] As a typical example, each gusset has:
[0014] an upper wall (e.g., an upper wall 22a in the embodiment)
combined with a bottom face of the upper wall of the damper
base;
[0015] a side wall (e.g., a side wall 22b in the embodiment)
fastened to an outer face of the side wall of the damper base;
and
[0016] a front wall (e.g., a front wall 22c in the embodiment) and
a rear wall (e.g., a rear wall 22d in the embodiment), each being
joined to the upper wall and the side wall of the gusset.
[0017] Preferably, the gusset has an opening surrounded by the
upper wall, the side wall, the front wall, and the rear wall of the
gusset, and a damper of a suspension of the vehicle is disposed in
the opening. Typically, the suspension is a rear suspension.
[0018] According to the above structure, the gusset has a U-shaped
section which is effective for securing necessary strength, and by
which a space for disposing a damper can be secured, where the
space is surrounded by the front wall, the rear wall, and the side
wall. Therefore, the arrangement space for the damper can be
secured and sufficient strength and rigidity can be secured without
increasing the (plate) thickness of the gusset. Accordingly, such a
structure can contribute to space-saving and lightening of the
vehicle body.
[0019] As another typical example, a lower portion of each gusset
(e.g., a lower portion of the side wall 22b in the embodiment) is
fastened to a member of a framework of the body of the vehicle,
where the member is arranged in a front-rear direction of the
vehicle. Typically, the member of the framework is a rear frame
(e.g., a rear frame 10 in the embodiment).
[0020] Accordingly, load transmitted from the suspension can be
imposed via the gusset on a member of the framework of the vehicle
body, which is arranged in a front-rear direction of the vehicle.
Therefore, sufficient strength and rigidity can be secured without
increasing the thickness of the gusset, thereby contributing to the
lightening of the vehicle body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rear portion of the vehicle, as
an embodiment of the present invention, which is viewed from the
top of the vehicle.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a vicinity of the
wheelhouse inner panel in the embodiment, which is viewed from the
top side of the vehicle toward the inside of the interior, and from
an inclined direction from the rear.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle body in the
embodiment, which is viewed from the bottom side of the vehicle,
and from an inclined direction from the rear.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a side portion of the
vehicle body in the embodiment, which is viewed from the bottom
side of the vehicle, and from a rear direction.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a gusset in the
embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line A-A in FIG. 2.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the general structure of a rear
suspension and peripheral portions in the embodiment.
[0028] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the major parts in FIG. 7.
[0029] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional structure,
which is viewed from the interior of a vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention
will be explained with reference to the drawings. In the figures
explained below, reference symbols RR, FR, and CTR respectively
indicate the rear direction, the front direction, and the direction
toward the inside of the interior of the vehicle.
[0031] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rear portion of the vehicle,
which is viewed from the top of the vehicle. In the figure, the
rear frames 10 and 10 are provided below the floor panel F, at both
sides of the vehicle body in the front-rear direction. Each rear
frame 10 has an (angular) U-shaped section, and the rear frames 10
and 10 function as constituents of the framework of the vehicle
body and realize a closed-section structure together with the floor
panel F, where the structure extends in the front-rear direction of
the vehicle.
[0032] The side sills 11 and 11 are respectively attached to front
portions of the rear frames 10 and 10, and the wheelhouse inner
panels 12 and 12 are respectively attached to the outer edges of
the rear frames 10 and 10. Between the damper bases 13 and 13
(explained below) of the wheelhouse inner panels 12 and 12, the
cross member portion 14 is provided in the width direction of the
vehicle, so that a closed-section structure together with the floor
panel F is formed in the width direction of the vehicle. Here, the
cross member portion 14 consists of an (angular) U-shaped cross
member 15 and joint members 16 and 16 attached to both ends of the
cross member 15.
[0033] Reference numeral 17 indicates a support member which is
provided in front of the cross member 15 and is connected between
the rear frames 10 and 10.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a vicinity of the
wheelhouse inner panel 12, which is viewed from the top side of the
vehicle toward the inside of the interior, and from an inclined
direction from the rear. The wheelhouse inner panel 12 has a
central portion which is concave toward the outside of the vehicle,
thereby forming an opening 18 at this portion. The damper base 13,
formed by using a plate thicker than that of the wheelhouse inner
panel 12, is welded to the opening 18. Specifically, the damper
base 13 has a flat upper wall 13a and a side wall 13b which joins
with the upper wall 13a and extends downward from the upper wall
13a. Here, the damper base 13 is welded to the opening 18 from the
outside of the interior via the peripheral flange 13c (see FIG. 4).
In addition, an attachment hole 13d is formed in the upper wall 13a
so as to permit the attachment of damper D (explained below).
[0035] The reinforcement 20 is joined to the top of the damper base
13, where the reinforcement 20 is also joined to the wheelhouse
inner panel 12 in a manner such that the reinforcement 20 extends
from the upper side toward the lower side of a central portion (in
the front-rear direction) of the wheelhouse inner panel 12. The
lower portion of the reinforcement 20 is joined to the upper wall
13a and the side wall 13b of the damper base 13. In addition, a
bulkhead 21 is attached inside the rear frame 10, so as to prevent
the U-shaped rear frame 10 from being deformed and opened.
[0036] The joint members 16 function as the two ends of the cross
member portion 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the joint member 16 has a
bottom wall 16a welded to the cross member 15, side walls 16b, and
flange portions 16c joined to the floor panel F. The bottom wall
16a of the joint member 16 extends toward the outside of the
interior of the vehicle, and the end of the extended portion bends
downward and functions as an attachment flange 16d which is joined
to the lower flange 22h (see FIG. 3) at the lower end of the side
wall 22b of the gusset 22 (explained below).
[0037] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle body, which is
viewed from the bottom of the vehicle, and from an inclined
direction from the rear. As shown in FIG. 3, each side wall 16b of
the joint member 16 has an attachment portion 16e which joins to
the side wall 10b of the rear frame 10. The extension walls 16f and
16f, which are bent portions joined to the attachment portions 16e
and 16e, are formed as extensions of the bottom wall 16a of the
joint member 16 in the front-rear direction.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, the gusset 22, having a relatively large
thickness similar to that of the damper base 13, is provided at the
outside of the damper base 13 (i.e., outside of the interior of the
vehicle). This gusset 22 is attached to a plurality of portions,
that is, to the upper wall 13a and the side wall 13b of the damper
base 13, and the side wall 10b of the rear frame 10. More
specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (FIG. 6 is a sectional view
along line A-A in FIG. 2), the gusset 22 has (i) an upper wall 22a
combined with the bottom face of the upper wall 13a of the damper
base 13, (ii) a side wall 22b fastened to the outer face of the
side wall 13b of the damper base 13 and the side wall 10b of the
rear frame 10 by using bolts or rivets, by welding, or the like,
and (iii) a front wall 22c and a rear wall 22d, which are joined to
both the upper wall 22a and the side wall 22b.
[0039] The width of each of the front wall 22c and the rear wall
22d gradually decreases when measured from the top to the bottom.
The side wall 22b, the front wall 22c, and the rear wall 22d form a
U-shaped section having an opening which opens toward the outside
of the interior of the vehicle, so that the damper D can be
effectively disposed in the opening. The side wall 22b of the
gusset 22 has an attachment hole 22g for the damper base 13, and an
attachment hole 13e, whose position corresponds to the attachment
hole 22g, is formed in the damper base 13. In addition,
reinforcement flanges 22i and 22i (refer to FIGS. 4 and 5) are
formed, which respectively extend from the front wall 22c and the
rear wall 22d in the front-rear direction.
[0040] A flange 22e is also formed, which extends upward from the
upper wall 22a of the gusset 22. This flange 22e is joined to the
upper flange 13f which is formed at the upper wall 13a of the
damper base 13, and also to the wheelhouse inner panel 12. In the
upper wall 22a of the gusset 22, an attachment hole 22f for the
damper D is formed.
[0041] The lower portion of the gusset 22 is fastened to the side
wall 10b of the rear frame 10 by using bolts or rivets, by welding,
or the like; however, the lower flange 22h of the side wall 22b
protrudes downward from the bottom wall 10a of the rear frame 10,
and the above-explained attachment flange 16d of the joint member
16 is joined to the lower flange 22h. In addition, a mount bracket
23 (see FIG. 4) for the rear suspension RS (see FIG. 7), is
attached to the bottom wall 10a of the rear frame 10, where the
mount bracket 23 is positioned in front of the gusset 22.
[0042] Accordingly, the gussets 22 (at both sides) are fastened to
the cross member portion 14 between the damper bases 13 and are
fastened to the rear frames 10 arranged in the front-rear direction
of the vehicle.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 7, the rear suspension RS is provided at
the outside of the wheelhouse inner panel 12 (i.e., outside of the
interior of the vehicle). The rear suspension RS consists of the
upper arm UA, the lower arm LA, the coil spring S, and the damper
D. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 8, the upper end of the
rod R of the damper D is fastened in a manner such that the upper
end is inserted in the attachment hole 22f of the gusset 22 and the
attachment hole 13d of the damper base 13. The interior material N
(for interior finish work) is arranged from the inner surface of
the wheelhouse inner panel 12 to the floor panel F without
protruding toward the inside of the interior of the vehicle. Here,
in FIGS. 6 and 8, reference symbols DJ and DJ indicate damper
joints, and in FIG. 7, reference symbol T indicates a tire.
[0044] According to the above-explained embodiment, the gussets 22
are provided at the outside of the damper base 13, that is, the
outside of the interior of the vehicle; thus, the gussets 22 do not
protrude toward the inside of the interior, thereby securing more
space in the interior. Therefore, when the interior material N is
arranged at the inside of the wheelhouse inner panel 12 (i.e., the
inside of the interior), protrusion of the interior material N (due
to the gussets) toward the inside of the interior does not occur
because the gussets 22 do not protrude toward the inside of the
interior. Therefore, it is possible to secure neat and sufficient
space for stowing baggage and for passengers who sit at the rear
side of the vehicle.
[0045] In addition, even if force acts on the gusset 22 from the
rear suspension RS in the horizontal direction and the damper D is
going to fall toward the inside of the interior and deform the
vehicle body, such force in the horizontal direction is transmitted
via the lower flange 22h of the gusset 22 and the joint member 16
and the load corresponding to the force is imposed on (i.e., shared
by) a plurality of portions such as the cross member portion 14,
which is a constituent of the framework of the vehicle body and is
arranged in the width direction of the vehicle, and the rear frame
10 and the bulkhead 21 at the opposite side, thereby preventing the
damper base 13 from falling toward the inside of the interior of
the vehicle. Therefore, the rigidity of the vehicle body around the
rear suspensions RS can be improved using existing members of the
vehicle body structure.
[0046] The gusset 22 has a U-shaped section which is effective for
securing necessary strength, and by which a space for disposing the
damper D can be secured, where the space is surrounded by the front
wall 22c, the rear wall 22d, and the side wall 22b. That is, the
arrangement space for the damper D can be secured without providing
a dedicated space, and sufficient strength and rigidity can be
secured by using the gussets 22 whose thickness is not particularly
large. Therefore, the above embodiment contributes to space-saving
and lightening of the vehicle body.
[0047] In addition, the damper D is disposed in a space surrounded
by the front wall 22c, the rear wall 22d, and the side wall 22b of
the gusset 22; thus, the damper D can be protected.
[0048] Furthermore, the lower portion of each gusset 22, that is,
the side wall 22b of the gusset 22, is fastened to the side wall
10b of the rear frame 10; thus, the force acting on the rear
suspension RS is imposed on the rear frame 10 arranged in the
front-rear direction of the vehicle. Also owing to such a
structure, sufficient strength and rigidity can be secured without
needing a particularly large thickness of the gusset 22, thereby
contributing to the lightening of the vehicle body.
[0049] The present invention is not limited to the above-explained
embodiment. For example, the above embodiment is applied to the
rear suspensions RS; however, the present invention can also be
applied to the front suspensions.
* * * * *